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Ithaca Rebounds, Downs Ducks in Rematch

from press release

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's
lacrosse team (13-4) used a 4-1 run in the third quarter to secure
an infinite lead and defeat visiting Stevens Institute of
Technology (8-8) 9-7 Wednesday afternoon in Empire 8 semifinal
action at Higgins Stadium. The 16th-ranked Bombers advance to host
the championship on Saturday, May 3 against St. John Fisher (12-4)
at 4 p.m.

Mirroring the 2013 season, Ithaca fell in its regular-season
finale to the Ducks before edging them in the conference
semifinals. Ithaca, who is making its 11th straight appearance in
the E8 Championship Tournament, has won the conference crown twice
in 2002 and 2008.

Ithaca held a 2-1 gap after the first, but a 3-1 Stevens showing
in the second led to a 4-4 deadlock at the half. The Bombers netted
four of the five goals scored in the third for an 8-5 advantage
entering the final frame. Ithaca scored early. Stevens surged with
back-to-back goals late in the game to cut within two, but Ithaca
regained possession following a Stevens shot at the one-minute mark
and ran out the clock in its offensive zone.

Despite the loss, the Ducks controlled three major statistical
categories leading shots 42-36, ground balls 37-28 and faceoffs
14-5.

Stevens netted the game's first goal at the nine-minute mark,
but senior Casey Schattner made his first of a career-best three
caused turnovers en route to classmate Andrew Kristy tying the game
at 1-1. Freshman John Januszkiewicz capitalized on a feed from
junior James Manilla at 5:45. The duo struck again two minutes into
the second. Stevens won the ensuing faceoff and crept within one,
3-2, before again exchanging scores. Senior Jake Long tallied on a
Januszkiewicz assist at 12:10 and the Ducks answered at 9:11. Three
penalties followed before Stevens recorded a man-down goal to even
the score at 4-4.

With Stevens serving a penalty that resulted in no faceoff to
open the third quarter, Long found the crosse of senior Ryan Burns
for the go-ahead man-up goal at 14:26 that set the tone for the
period. Senior Brandon Henne and freshman Justin Bird tallied just
16 seconds apart for a 7-4 cushion at the 12-minute mark. The Ducks
snapped their scoring silence at 7:17, but Manilla went unassisted
to reinstate a three-goal gap at 2:09.

Senior Pat Slawta accounted for the Bombers' lone fourth-period
goal two minutes into the quarter. Stevens posted back-to-back
goals at 3:36 and 1:55, but it was too little too late.

Sophomore Scott Sidnam made his sixth double-digit save
performance of the season collecting 11 stops between the
pipes.

Henne won four faceoffs and junior Matt Greenblatt added one.
Sophomore Eli Gobrecht scooped up seven ground balls for the
Bombers. Manilla and junior Jimmy Ryan chipped in four each.